Joke of the week....

Virtual Stock Market Contest

Last semester I started a virtual stock market contest for my two sections of MBF3C.  I had heard that student's in other schools have really enjoyed this contest so I decided to give it a try.  To say that they were excited was an understatement.  The words engaged, enthusiastic, and almost obsessed come to mind!!!

From the moment class began each day, students were anxious to see the standings in the contest and would work diligently so that they could have a few minutes at the end of class to jump on the netbooks and start trading.  I had students on the website at home and actually having discussions with family members about the contest.  YES, they were talking about math class... AT HOME!!!  Amazing!

The website www.howthemarketworks.com is very user friendly and allows students to sign up with fake email addresses.  Teachers have access to all student logins (in case they forget) and are able to reset passwords.  The best part is - it's FREE!!!
I spent one class in the lab introducing students to the site and looking up:

• terms in the glossary,
• symbols for various companies,
• current prices of specific stocks,
• and finally, buying their own virtual stocks given $10,000.

I ran the contest for a month and the top three finishers were given prizes at the end of the contest.  I will definitely be running this each semester, and maybe even competing against other schools in the county.  Check it out!

Starfall.com now includes MATH

I have always been a proud supporter of Starfall.  Both of my sons learned their letter sounds and began to read with the help of this wonderful website. 

Last week, I noticed that they have expanded their website and in addition to reading, starfall now teaches math and colours.  While the phonetics and reading pages were free for everyone, most of the math pages are blocked for non-members.  The prices for membership range from $35 (home membership) to $270 (school membership).  Judging by the few pages that I can visit, I think the home membership would be worth the investment.  Starfall has always been a  brightly coloured website with cute (but simple) graphics and appealing children's voice recordings. 

In my mind, Starfall will continue to be a leading website for primary children at home and in the classroom.

Ontario Secondary Math Report Card Comments

I've included a page outlining my process for creating report card comments as well as specific examples tailored to a few secondary math courses including MAT1L/2L, MFM2P, and MBF3C.

I hope to add more course examples in the future!

Secondary Report Card Comments

Examples of Significant Strengths for MBF3C

TRIGONOMETRY

She showed an excellent understanding of trigonometry on her chapter test by solving problems involving the sine law and cosine law in acute triangles.

He was able to demonstrate a good understanding of trigonometry by being able to solve problems involving right triangles, using the primary trigonometric ratios on his quizzes.

He excelled in the trigonometry unit where he was able to solve problems involving the sine law and cosine law in acute triangles on his quiz and chapter test.

She excelled in the trigonometry unit and was able to solve problems involving the sine law and cosine law in acute triangles on her quiz and chapter test.

She has excelled in each unit, especially in Trigonometry, where she was able to solve problems involving the sine law and cosine law in acute triangles.

PROBABILITY

He showed a good understanding of the probability unit by successfully calculating theoretical and experimental probabilities in order to solve problems on his chapter test.

He excelled in the probability unit by successfully calculating theoretical and experimental probabilities to solve problems on his chapter test.

He showed a thorough understanding of probability on his chapter test by calculating theoretical and experimental probabilities to solve problems.

She excelled in the probability unit where she demonstrated her ability to solve problems by calculating theoretical and experimental probabilities on her chapter test.

He demonstrated a thorough understanding of probability by calculating theoretical and experimental probabilities on his chapter test and interpreting their applications.

He has done an outstanding job on all unit tests, especially in the Probability unit, where he was able to solve problems involving theoretical and experimental probabilities.

She demonstrated a good understanding of probability and was successful in solving problems using theoretical and experimental probabilities on her test and assignments.

He demonstrated a good understanding of the probability unit and was successful in solving problems using theoretical and experimental probabilities on his test.

STATISTICS

She demonstrated a good understanding of the probability and statistics units by analysing and evaluating data in order to solve problems on her chapter tests.

He demonstrated a good understanding of Statistics by being able to calculate and interpret measures of central tendency and spread on his assignments and chapter test.

He has demonstrated a good understanding of statistics and was able to successfully calculate and interpret measures of central tendency and spread on his assignments.

She was able to demonstrate a good understanding of measures of central tendency by calculating the mean, median and mode on her quiz.

She did an excellent job with her statistics assignments, demonstrating her ability to calculate measures of central tendency and measures of spread.

He demonstrated a good understanding of Statistics by being able to calculate and interpret measures of central tendency and spread on his assignments.

QUADRATICS I

She did an excellent job on the Quadratics I unit where she was able to sketch quadratic relations and solve problems arising from real-world applications.

He demonstrated a good understanding of quadratic relations by being able to graph, transform and solve problems involving quadratic equations.

He did an excellent job on his Quadratics assignment and test, demonstrating his understanding of quadratic relations and their applications.

He demonstrated a good understanding of quadratics on his chapter test by being able to graph parabolas and solve problems involving quadratic relations.

She has excelled in all units, especially in quadratics where she was successful in solving problems involving graphing and interpreting quadratic equations.

QUADRATICS II

He demonstrated a good understanding of the Quadratics II unit where he was able to successfully factor trinomials and difference of squares on his factoring assignment.

She demonstrated an excellent understanding of the Quadratics II unit where she was able to successfully graph quadratic relations and convert equations from vertex to factored form on her chapter test.

EXPONENTS

He demonstrated a good understanding of the exponential relations unit by using exponential equations to solve problems involving growth and decay on his assignment.

He demonstrated a thorough understanding of exponentials by being able to use formulas for exponential growth and decay to accurately solve real-world problems on his exponential relations test.

He excelled in the exponential relations unit where he was able to use the exponent rules to evaluate numeric expressions containing integer exponents and solve problems using equations of exponential relations arising from a variety of real-world applications.

She did well in the exponential relations unit where she was able to apply the exponent rules to evaluate numeric expressions containing exponents on her assignment and chapter test.

COMPOUND INTEREST

In the compound interest unit, he was successful in using the simple and compound interest formulas to solve real-world problems on his assignment and chapter test.

She demonstrated a good understanding of the compound interest unit by being able to solve problems involving simple and compound interest on her chapter test.

In the compound interest unit, she was successful in using the simple and compound interest formulas to solve real-world problems on both her assignment and chapter test.

He demonstrated a good understanding of the compound interest unit by being able to solve problems involving simple and compound interest using their respective formulas.

He did an excellent job on his compound interest assignment where he was able to successfully solve real-world problems using the simple and compound interest formulas.

He demonstrated a thorough understanding of the compound interest unit where he was able to solve complex problems involving simple and compound interest on his assignment and chapter test.

She excelled in the compound interest unit where she was able to successfully solve problems involving simple and compound interest on her chapter test.

She did a great job in the compound interest unit where she was able to use formulas for simple and compound interest to solve problems with real-world applications.

He demonstrated an excellent understanding of compound interest by being able to use the simple and compound interest formulas to solve real-world problems on both his assignment and chapter test.

She demonstrated a thorough understanding of the compound interest unit where she was able to use the formulas for simple and compound interest to solve complex real-world problems on her assignment and chapter test.

PERSONAL FINANCE

He demonstrated a good understanding of the personal finance unit by being able to solve problems involving credit cards as well as interpret information about owning and operating a vehicle on his assignment.

She did well in the personal finance unit where she was able to calculate interest in credit cards and interpret costs associated with owning and operating a vehicle.

He demonstrated a good understanding of the personal finance unit by being able to calculate interest on credit cards as well as the costs associated with owning and operating a vehicle.

He excelled in the personal finance unit where he successfully solved problems involving credit card interest and calculated costs associated with owning and operating a vehicle on both his assignment and chapter test.

Secondary Report Card Comments

Examples of Significant Strengths for MFM2P

MEASAUREMENT

He demonstrated a good understanding of measurement by successfully converting between metric and Imperial units and solving problems involving similar triangles on his chapter test.

He was able to successfully convert between metric and Imperial units and solve problems involving similar triangles on his chapter test.

He demonstrated a good understanding of measurement by successfully converting between metric and Imperial units and solving problems involving similar triangles on his chapter test.

TRIGONOMETRY

He demonstrated a solid understanding of trigonometry with his ability to solve problems involving right triangles on his review assignment.

He excelled in the trigonometry unit and was able to successfully solve problems involving right triangles, using the primary trigonometric ratios and the Pythagorean Theorem.

He demonstrated a good understanding of trigonometry by successfully solving problems involving right triangles on his chapter test.

He was able to successfully determine the length of an angle or unknown side of a right triangle, using the primary trigonometric ratios and the Pythagorean Theorem on his chapter test.

LINEAR RELATIONS

He excelled in the linear relations chapter and was able to successfully graph and determine the equation of lines on his chapter test.

He demonstrated a good understanding of the linear relations unit and was able to successfully graph and determine the equation of lines on his chapter test.

She was able to successfully graph and determine the equation of lines on her linear relations review assignment and chapter test.

He demonstrated a good understanding of linear relations by successfully graphing and determining the equation of lines on his review assignment.

She demonstrated a thorough knowledge of both linear relations and equations by being able to graph lines, write equations of lines, and solve algebraic equations on her tests.

LINEAR EQUATIONS

He demonstrated a good understanding of linear equations by successfully manipulating and solving algebraic equations on his chapter test.

LINEAR SYSTEMS

He excelled in the linear systems unit where he was able to solve systems of two linear equations by manipulating algebraic equations.

QUADRATIC REASONING

He did an excellent job in the quadratic reasoning unit and was successful in solving problems involving parabolas by identifying its key features such as the vertex and x-intercepts.

By being able to interpret graphs of quadratic relations to find their max/min, vertex, and intercepts, She was able to solve problems with real world applications.

He did an excellent job on his quadratic reasoning chapter test where he was able to solve problems by interpreting graphs of quadratic relations.

He excelled in the quadratic reasoning chapter where he was able to identify the key features of a parabola and solve problems by interpreting graphs of quadratic relations.

He did an excellent job on both his quadratic reasoning assignment and chapter test and was able to identify the key features of a parabola such as the vertex and x-intercepts, and use these features to solve problems.

QUADRATIC EXPRESSIONS

He was able to successfully factor quadratic equations to find x-intercepts, and use the graphing calculator to graph parabolas and solve real world problems.

She excelled in the quadratic expressions chapter and was able to manipulate algebraic expressions by expanding or factoring to solve problems involving quadratic relations.

GEOMETRY

He performed well on both is Geometry assignment and unit test and was successful in solving problems involving the volume and surface area of geometric figures.

He excelled in the geometry unit where he was able to calculate the surface area and volume of geometric figures.

She excelled in the geometry unit where she was able use various formulas to solve problems involving the volume and surface area of geometric shapes.

He did well in the Geometry unit where he was able to use the formulas for surface area and volume to solve problems involving geometric figures.

He did an excellent job in the geometry unit where he was able to use the formulas for surface area and volume to solve problems involving geometric figures.

Secondary Report Card Comments

Examples of Significant Strengths for MAT1L MAT2L

MONEY SENSE

He excelled in the Money Sense unit where he was able to solve problems involving money drawn from everyday situations, and communicate information about money concepts on his chapter test.

She is able to interpret, write, and round decimal numbers with understanding in everyday money situations and did well on her money sense chapter test.

He demonstrated a good understanding of the Money Sense unit where he was able to solve problems involving money drawn from everyday situations, and communicate information about money concepts on his chapter test.

She demonstrated a good understanding of the Money Sense unit where she was able to solve problems involving money, drawn from everyday situations on her review assignment and chapter test.

She excelled in the money sense unit where she demonstrated her ability to calculate taxes, discounts and sale prices on the chapter test.

She demonstrated a good understanding of the Money Sense unit where she was able to solve problems involving money, drawn from everyday situations on her chapter test.

She did an excellent job on her money sense culminating assignment as well as her chapter test, where she demonstrated her ability to calculate taxes, discounts and sale prices.

MEASUREMENT

He demonstrated a good understanding of the measurement unit where he was able to estimate and measure lengths in metric and imperial units, as well as calculate unit conversions on his chapter test.

She demonstrated a good understanding of the measurement unit where she was able to estimate and measure lengths in metric and imperial units, as well as calculate unit conversions on her review assignment and chapter test.

He handed in an excellent measurement review assignment where he was able to estimate and measure lengths in metric and imperial units, as well as calculate unit conversions.

He showed an excellent understanding of Measurement on his review assignment and chapter test by being able to; estimate and measure lengths in metric and imperial units, as well as calculate unit conversions.

GEOMETRY

He demonstrated a good understanding of the geometry unit where he was able to use formulas to calculate area, perimeter, and volume on his chapter test.

She excelled in the geometry unit where she was able to calculate area, perimeter, and volume to solve real world problems.

She excelled in the geometry unit where she was able to calculate the perimeter, area and volume of geometric figures.

She demonstrated a good understanding of the geometry unit by calculating the perimeter, area, and volume of geometric shapes to solve real world problems on her chapter test.

RATIOS, RATES & PROPORTIONS

He did an excellent job in the sports and leisure unit where he was successful in solving real world problems involving equivalent ratios and rates.

She demonstrated a thorough knowledge of the sports and leisure unit where she was able to calculate equivalent ratios and rates to solve real world problems. 

He showed a good understanding of the sports and leisure unit where he was able to solve real world problems involving equivalent ratios and rates on his assignment.

She demonstrated a good understanding of rates and percents in the dining out unit and was able to successfully calculate taxes and tips on her chapter test.

She demonstrated a good understanding of the dining out unit by being able to estimate long sums, calculate taxes, and round decimals on her assignment.

He demonstrated a good understanding of the dining out unit by successfully calculating taxes and tips on his chapter test.

She demonstrated a thorough understanding of the dining out unit where she was able to estimate long sums, round decimals, and calculate taxes.

He did an outstanding job in the dining out unit where he was able to estimate long sums, round decimals, and calculate taxes on both his assignment and chapter test.

WORLD OF WORK

She excelled in the world of work unit where she was able to calculate rates of pay and did an outstanding job on her chapter assignment.

She did a great job on her money sense culminating assignment where she demonstrated her ability to calculate taxes, discounts and sale prices.

He excelled in the world of work unit where he was able to successfully work with time cards, determine rates of pay, and budget spending on his chapter test.

Math Clocks Now Available!

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